Interim Reparative Measures (IRM) Project
The Interim Reparative Measures (IRM) Project, funded by the Global Survivors Fund and jointly implemented by Nadia’s Initiative and Mission East, centres on providing access to both individual and collective interim reparative measures. These projects are co-created with survivors, who exercise full autonomy in shaping the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes.
Location: Iraq
In the year 2014, The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) launched a devastating attack on Yazidi communities in Iraq. This attack represents one of the most horrific instances of contemporary terrorism and genocide. Many people, particularly women, suffered severe human rights abuses, including enslavement and conflict-related sexual violence. As a result, individuals endured the loss of their identity, culture, families, homes, and livelihoods. The Interim Reparative Measures project, funded by the Global Survivors Fund and jointly implemented by Nadia’s Initiative and Mission East, was created in response to this dire situation. Its purpose is to provide survivors of conflict-related sexual violence with an opportunity to receive tangible and intangible benefits through recognition of their traumas. These reparation measures are intended as an interim measure while the government and international actors work to establish formal, long-term reparations.
Highlights:
Through the Interim Reparative Measures Project, a total of 1034 survivors received critical supports prior to the enactment of the Yazidi Survivors Law. In the Dohuk area, 756 survivors received cash reparations. In Sinjar, 278 survivors received services of their choice based on their individual needs and priorities. In the Dohuk area, 95% of survivors reported that the cash reparation was extremely helpful, and only 5% of survivors reported additional needs to the team. In Sinjar, survivors reported via a focus group discussion that the project was dramatically helpful, and that more sustained assistance is needed, particularly with health and psychological supports.
Results:
The Interim Reparative Measures Project is a crucial initiative designed to address the complex challenges faced by survivors who endured captivity under ISIS in Sinjar. These survivors encounter significant hurdles in their journey to reintegrate into their communities due to the profound impacts of the violence and trauma they endured. This project has been strategically developed to support the sustainable recovery of these survivors’ lives by addressing their immediate needs.
A cornerstone of the project lies in the active involvement of Yazidi survivors, who play a central role in shaping its direction. Their input is garnered through a comprehensive array of channels, including focus group discussions, key information interviews, a steering committee, and surveys. This survivor-centred approach underscores the project’s commitment to providing holistic care. For survivors who have returned to Sinjar, this care encompasses critical aspects such as livelihood opportunities, shelter, healthcare, psychosocial support, legal and documentation support, access to education, and cash assistance. A profound emphasis is placed on their autonomy by placing survivors at the core of the Interim Reparative Measures project. This ensures that they have a central role in determining the support they receive. This approach aims to reduce the risks of re-traumatisation and stigmatisation, ultimately empowering survivors to take ownership of their healing process. This outcome is visible through the survivors’ choice for a collective reparation measure. They have decided to build a memorial statue and garden at the entrance of Sinjar City to create a place to gather, remember, and celebrate the resilience of the Yazidi people.